New reversed-phase/anion-exchange/hydrophilic interaction mixed-mode stationary phase based on dendritic polymer-modified porous silica

A novel dendritic polymer-modified silica (DPS) stationary phase was prepared by a divergent synthesis scheme starting from propylamine on silica by consecutive amine-epoxy reactions with 1,4-butanedioldiglycidyl ether and aniline. Both elemental analysis and infrared spectra data shows the successful growth of dendritic polymer on silica particles. The carbon and nitrogen contents increased with an increasing number of reaction cycles and achieved 25.2% and 2.1% (w/w) after 11 reaction cycles. The combination of a phenyl ring with a quaternary ammonium, or a tertiary amine at the branch point along with embedded polar functionalities (including ether and hydroxyl groups) in the branch, generated hydrophobic, electrostatic, as well as hydrophilic interactive domains. Depending on solute structure and mobile phase composition, the DPS stationary phase provided multiple retention mechanisms, including reversed phase (RP), anion-exchange (AEX), and hydrophilic interactions. The RP capability achieved separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Basic, neutral and acidic molecules were well separated under RP/AEX mixed mode. Effective separation of small polar compounds (such as nucleobases and nucleosides) was also obtained under hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) mode.